Automobile headlight-turner.



J. E. BJORLIE.

AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHT TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1913.

1,]; @,96, Patented June 23, 1914.

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AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHT-TURNER.

Specification of Letters ?atent.

Patented June 23, 1914.

Application filed June 30, 1913. Serial No. 776,566.

To all'whom it may concern Be it: known that L JOHN E. BJoRLIn,

.a citizenof the United States, residing at Pekin, in the county of Nelson and State of North Dakota, have invented a new and'useful Automobile Headlight-Turner, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to combined lighting and turning devices for head-lights ofautomobiles and other vehicles; and the main object is'to provide an eiiicient device of said kind.- A

In the accompanyingdraWing,-Figure 1 is a plan view of the wheels and so much of the frame work and other parts of an automobile as is required in showing and describing my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view'of a gas pipe and gas valve with some of my invention attached thereto for opening and closing the valve when gas is used for the head-lights.

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the lighting and extingulshlng means when electric lights are used in the head-lights. Fig. 4

is an enlarged portion near the right hand end of the view Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawingby reference numerals, 1 designates theframe, 2 the driving wheels, 3 the steered front wheels and 4 the steering wheel of any automobile or auto truck capable of having this invention applied to it.

The frame shown may for convenience of description be termed the body or truck of the vehicle. Upon the front end of the truck are mounted to turn either on or with vertical posts 5' two head-lights 6, each of which has a rocker arm 7. Said arms are pivotally connected by a rod 8. One end of said rod is connected by a link 9 with a rack 10, which slides between guiding ribs 11 of-a bracket 12. Said rack is arranged for engagement by a cog pinion 13, which is slidable on the lower end of the steering shaft 45 and on a key 14 fixed therein. Said shaft is journaled A in bearings 15 and 16 and has the steering at 28 to the frame and is'operated by a rod 29, which near its rear end has a rack 30 eni. gaged by a mutilated cog-wheel 31, which wheel is connected. with a handle 32 anda' valve plug 33 of a 'valve 34, (best shown in Fig. 2). Said valve is inserted in a pipeline 35 extending from a gas reservoir 36 to the gas jets in the head-lights. If electric lights are used, as indicated in Fig. 3, the electric wiring 37 takes the place of the gas pipes 35 and an electric battery (not shown) takes the place of the. gas-holder 36; and a switch 38 is so arranged that the switch-'pluv 39 may be turned by the handle One 0 the many ways in which this may-1 be done is shown in Fig. 3, where a bracket 40 is se cured to the frame 1 and to the switch 38, andin it-is journaled a fork; etlhaving the gear 31 and thehandle 32 securedon it.

Ill Fig. 1 is shown a, pivoted arm 12, pressed by a spring .43 and havingaftlf-j shaped notch fitting a V-shaped lug' l l' on the rack 10.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Whether electric or gas lights are used,

makes no difference. The front wheels arel steered by the hand wheel 4, shaft 4, pinion 17, rack 18, link 20 and rod 21, while the head-,lightsafter being lighted are turned in unison with the front wheels 3, by the rod' 8,'link 9, rack 10, pinion 13 and shaft 4., the spring 43 yielding for the movement of the lug 44 of the rack 10. WVhen the lights are not needed, as during the day time, the handle 32 is turned rearwardly, and. by ..so doing the-gear 31, acting on the rack 30, rod

29 and shifter 27 moves the pinion 13. re'arwardly out'of mesh with the rack 10,andjthe spring i3 by acting on the arm 42 causes the rack 10 to slide to a position in whichit holds the head-lights in a straight forward direction. The rack 10 is thereby also held in proper position for reengagement by the; pinion 13 whenever the latter is moved forward by turning the lights on while the: front wheels are standing in a fairly straight forward direction. It willthus be:

seen that by a single forward movement of the handle 32 the lights will be turned on and also automatically coupled to the steering mechanism; and by a single rearward movement of the same handle the lights are 'put out and arealso automatically-uncouied from the steering mechanism, thus preventing wear and tear of the head-light turning mechanism during the day time hicle and-arranged to turn from side to side in unison Withthe steered wheels, a manually operated steering mechanism operatively connected with the steered wheels, a source .of light connected with the headlights, 'a head-light turning mechanism, means for coupling the head-light turning mechanism to and uncoupling it from the steering-mechanism, means for lighting and.

extinguishing the head lights, said coupling and uncoupling means and said means for lighting and extinguishing the head-lights being operatively connected so as to act simultaneousl'y.

2. In a vehicle, the combination with a vehiclebody, of supporting wheels arranged to be turned laterally in steering the vehicle, one or more head-lights mounted on the vehicle and arranged to turn from side to side in unison with the steered Wheels, a source of light connected with the head-lights, a headlight turning mechanism, a manually operated steering mechanism operatively connected w th the steered Wheels, means for coupling the last mentioned two mechanisms together and for uncoupling them, meansfor lighting and extinguishing the headlights, said coupling and uncoupling means and said means for lighting and extinguishing the head-lights being operatively connected so as to act simultaneously; and automatic means for holding; the head-lights in aj forward direction when they are uncoupled from the steering mechanism.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. BJORLIE. Witnesses:

E. 0. Banana, 1 H. G. SoANsEN. 

